Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Secondary hypothyroidism is observed in children after brain damage. The aim of the study is evaluation of mental development in preterm-born children during replacement therapy with l-thyroxin because the secondary hypothyroidism.

Description of methods: The motor and mental development preterm new-borns with secondary hypothyroidism treated with l-thyroxin since the second week of life were compared with the development of preterm new-born with secondary hypothyroidism treated since the 4th week or later. The motor development was evaluated, and the mental development and IQ was assessed in the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children in the seventh and tenth year of life.

Results: Earlier achievement of the milestones of motor development, i.e. sitting, standing, and walking was observed in children from group who received early treatment with modest doses of l-thyroxin. In this group, all infants acquired the motor functions statistically significantly earlier in comparison to the infants from group with delayed treatment. In the 7th year of life, the IQs were significantly higher in group I treated since the second week of life in comparison to group II.

Conclusions: The early replacement therapy with l-thyroxin initiated in the 2nd week of life may improve long-term mental development in children.